The New Home

In 2079, living on Earth is no longer easy. This world has seen a lot of catastrophes and chaos that raged a battle between the man and nature. I live in the underground, just like other fellow human beings. It leaves only a few thousand humans alive. It's a prerogative to be alive. I'm just a short, plump waitress with a bob cut that serves food and drinks to the higher officials who stop by, occasionally. Every day, I hear excited jabber on how humans are sent to the Moon as part of the project: The New Home and the curious lifestyle in the moon. It is the talk of the town since the commencement of the project ten years ago. This project's whereabouts are strictly confidential. All one knows is that they send a person to Moon every year. The commander says it's a privilege to be chosen for the Moon trip. I sigh and wipe the counter as the sirens blare. It was time to choose the next "Privileged" for this year. Everyone gathers near the TV, blocking my view. The commander's voice greets as I grab a high stool and sit.

"Hello, citizens. The New Home project is making great progress so far. Here are some clips of habitation and the Moon is becoming our new home, as the name of the project suggests!"

They show clips of small houses that look cozy that erupts a state of awe and murmurs among the people continue. They call it the Hive. Soon, I drift away from this world and started to draw in the napkin. I scoff at the commander as he continues to talk as I draw a small puppy with Adriana, my daughter. I smile at my doodle, wondering what would Adriana comment on it.

"And the lucky person who gets to volunteer this year is Aurora Myers."

The pencil in my hand drops to the floor as I stare at the big screen. My picture was displayed and suddenly, all eyes were on me. My heart beats faster as I gulp in fear. Blood rushes furiously in my body as my palm begins to sweat. Everyone applauds and I sit there frozen. The first blow that struck me was that I will be taken away from Adriana. No. This isn't supposed to happen. It must be a mistake. It definitely must be. Am I dreaming? I pinch myself only to groan in pain as it was no dream.

I gather my belongings and rush to the change room. I change my clothes in haste and rush to my home on my moped. I have to see Adriana before they take me away. There is no way I can escape from this. As a norm, every person has a GPS tracker stitched in their neck. Removing it is akin to death. Thankfully, I live close by. I fumble with the keys in the door, panicking that I'm losing time. I groan as the door opens and I find my 8-year-old daughter with a baseball bat, ready to take a swing.

Adriana shrieks, "Jeez Mom, you scared me!"

There she gives me a mini heart attack. I say, "Calm down, girl." I pat her back and quickly lock the door. I put away the bat aside and turn towards Adriana. She looks down at her toes silently and her eyes meet mine with many questions.

"Mom, are you going to leave me?"

A spiral of emotions stir at the question and situation I'm put in. Should I say that I'll never see her again, just as the other Privileged who never returned? How is her future going to be after I'm gone? The State has kept the Privileged's living status strictly confidential. So no one knows if the Privileged are alive or turned into dust in the Moon. Would I ever get to witness my little girl turning into an amazing woman and her precious moments she would cherish in her life?

A knock interrupts the train of thoughts. I hug my little girl close to me as I nervously look at the door. They have come to take me. I'm going to be separated from my little doe. It was silly of me to think they'll just go away if I leave the door unanswered with a small prick ingrained my neck. I ask Adriana to go to her room, assuring her everything will be alright. I take a deep breath and compose myself as I twist the doorknob. Speak of the devil, the commander himself. Standing tall with piercing blue eyes with a tinge of familiarity reminded me of the day when my whole world turned upside down. His face was twisted with a smile when he captured my father under the name of volunteering as the first one to go to the moon for this project. Though the State portrayed this as the topmost privilege one can get. It was a sick joke of choosing your family member as a scapegoat, just like my father. Perhaps the State enjoyed this game of putting its children in the same fate as mine. My mother died bringing me into this world only to witness and experience the cruel separation from my father for the sake of the greater good. Or so the State says. The State celebrated my dad as a hero for sacrificing his life when the rocket exploded in the sky like a rain of glowing coal and he was forgotten soon. Now my child might also experience the same, and my heart writhes in pain just at the thought of losing her.

The commander pauses for a moment and says, "Congratulations, Miss. Myers. You're selected as a volunteer for the Moon trip, and you're now a member of the Privileged. Your child will be given the best care and education by the State. I assure you. I'm here to take you to the Facility, to prepare you for your trip."

He smiles at me with a hint of mischief and I look at him briefly, soon to be masked with no expression.

"You took my father away, and he ended up in ashes in the sky. Now Adriana will face the same pain I underwent, and she will be given the best care by the State. I'm amazed at the twist of fate, really."

My words dripped with sarcasm as I was controlling my boiling rage that was exploding in my head.

Unaffected, the commander says," You've got thirty minutes to grab your things and I'm a man of my words, Miss. Myers. So, please go on."

My fists ball and my knuckles turn white. I hate this man and I wish I could punch him. I let out a sigh and grab my things in haste for me and Adriana. I packed my bags and took the picture of my family. I graze my fingers over the picture of me sitting on my dad's shoulders. We were happy and complete. I notice how handsome my dad was, and I croaked a small laugh. I went to Adriana's room, and she was hugging her teddy tight. I lift her from the bed and say, "We're leaving this place." I hold her in my hand and walk towards the commander. I look at my home for one last time and I lock it. I kiss Adriana on her forehead and give her a hug before we parted our ways. She had the same longing in her eyes I had when my father was captured. How I yearned that it never happened. Reaching the Facility, which is on the surface of the Earth, I see a tall rocket standing gloriously. Soon, I was buckled up for the launch and I close my eyes remembering all the good times. A small tear escapes. The rocket takes off with a thud and shoots right into the sky. I grip the seat in panic and fear, while the Captain assures me everything is going well.

Looking out from the window, I realize I'm far away from my daughter. Time slows down as the stars start to show as balls of fire. It was a breathtaking view.

After a two-day voyage, the rocket lands on the Moon. The door of the rocket opens; freeing the staircase and white, dome-shaped shelter comes into view. The view is exhilarating. I keep a foot on the Moon and I bounced with a squeal of laughter. I was greeted by two men wearing suits as same as me and they transported me to The Hive, a place where the Privileged can be accommodated for living in the Moon. They gave me new suits to wear, and they took me to meet the Director of the project. I sit in his room and look around, waiting in the Director room. My breath hitched as my eyes registered the figure that entered the room. He was standing tall in his suit with his grey hair neatly combed to the side. He smiles at me and all hell breaks loose in my head. The Director of the project is my father, after all. And he's alive.